Should the Conn Smythe Trophy be handed to Mikko Rantanen after just eight post-season games? Maybe so after the Moose collected his second consecutive hat trick to help the Stars get the jump on Winnipeg in the opening game of their second round series.

Over to eastern Canada where the Toronto Maple Leafs are giving actual hope to their championship-starved fans for the first time in over three decades as they win a second straight one-goal game over the defending champion Panthers.

Finally, isn't Stanley Cup hockey supposed to be more defensive as the spring evolves? If so, that memo wasn't received in a game during the 1973 Final.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

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